Is street still top spot to go out after closures?

Sarah Cutler, of Marla's Sandwich Shop, says the difficulties faced in Princes Avenue mirror those seen across the UK

Business owners in a hotspot for bars and restaurants say they remain optimistic about the future, despite seeing two long-standing venues close down.

Princes Avenue has been one of the leading places to go out in Hull for over two decades, but on Tuesday the El Toro tapas restaurant announced it was shutting, just weeks after nearby Thai House closed after 25 years.

Neighbouring venues say the street still has a "great vibe", but would like to see more support for the hospitality sector to help them weather rising costs.

A government spokesperson said: "We are a pro-business government and we know the vital importance of hospitality to local communities and the economy."

At Marla's Sandwich Shop, a fixture of the street for the past four years, owner Sarah Cutler says a combination of increasing prices and decreasing footfall is "destroying businesses".

"It's everywhere across the city and not just this area [that is struggling].

"Princes Ave still has a great vibe, but people don't have the money to come out.

"When long-standing places shut it is really scary. We're a massive community and people will always try, but if the money isn't there then there's not much we can do."

Restauranteur Adriano Kociu believes independent businesses can still thrive in the current climate

El Toro had been serving customers for over a decade before closing, but the street has seen new investment and openings in recent months.

Adriano Kociu, from Rimini, Italy, took over the Da Gianni restaurant four months ago and says he was attracted to the Avenues after hearing "amazing stories" about "the best street in Hull".

"It's a great place and I want my restaurant to be a part of something beautiful. We [the businesses] need to support each other and I think there's plenty of opportunity to get better.

"I really believe in this area."

Next door to his restaurant is a new bar, Tiffany's, which opened two weeks ago following the success of a sister venue in the city centre.

Lacy Marsh, the general manager, says Princes Avenue has a "beautiful character" and is "full of culture", but acknowledges the difficulties facing the industry.

"There's a huge panic across the hospitality sector with places closing and it's really sad," she says.

Lacy Marsh is "confident" about the future of her new bar Tiffany's

"It feels like everything is out to get us and this is an industry that supports thousands of people. It's not just bars or restaurants – you've got taxis, takeaways, food suppliers and it's a domino effect.

"Hospitality has always seen challenges, this is no different, and I'm confident things will improve."

On the opposite side of Princes Avenue, the Corner Cafe and Bistro has made its home in a former butcher's shop.

Standing among the venue's traditional ceramic tiles and fresh flowers, Bogdan Chelru says trading conditions have been "hard at times", but opening his own business three years ago has been a "dream".

"We are so lucky with our customers, but it can be a struggle because everything is going up. People are more careful about spending money and maybe come out a bit less.

"We all want to do well and we want Princes Avenue to be a great place to come. We're all trying our best for the customers and hope they'll come back."

Bogdan Chelru, owner of the Corner Cafe and Bistro, has seen changes in spending habits since the pandemic

UK Hospitality, a trade body for the industry, is calling for urgent measures in the autumn budget to "ease pains" for business owners.

"Sadly, stories like this are becoming ever more common since the last Budget, the measures of which imposed an extra £3.4bn per year on hospitality," says Tony Sophoclides, the strategic affairs director.

"Changes to employer National Insurance contributions and business, alongside other rising costs means businesses are being taxed out, all too often to the point of closure."

The government says it will introduce a new, permanent lower business rate for retail, hospitality and leisure in April 2026 as part of a reform of the business rates system.

A spokesperson said: "We know the vital importance of hospitality to local communities and the economy.

"We are supporting them with a 1p cut to alcohol duty on draught pints, capping corporation tax and protecting the smallest businesses from the employer National Insurance rise."

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices